Summer Time

Where do I start? Well, I love Texas! There is so much I need to tell you about and get you caught up! I have been busy settling into the Lone Star state and traveling on my fun little adventures this summer! So, take a deep breath...

I have spent a little time in Texas prior to moving here and everyone talks about the humidity. It sure is a different heat then California (and Arizona)! I found myself just dripping sweat and I loved it... It felt as if I was melting some days and it was pretty hard on my horses. I have been able to rope a couple of times but now that the weather has cooled off I am thinking that I will have more opportunities to play with the caballos. This week the high is in the 70’s and I crave riding and working with my colt. Just give me some music in my earphones and the reins... I will be good!

If you have been following me on Facebook or Twitter you might have noticed a big lizard in some photos. Wesley Jones, who is the host and owner of Unlimited Outdoors, invited me to go hunting. Jones gave me an option, “Would you like to hunt ducks, a buck or an alligator?”

Well, if you know me at all you would know what my answer was. We met up in Florida and went to the Osckola Outfitters. Hoppy and the guides loaded us on an airboat and flew a cross land and water, mosquitoes and mean angry alligators before we found her.

We shut off the fan and flipped around hoping that she hadn’t taken off. Far from it! She was coming straight for us, hissing and mad! (Gals, we have had those days! I think we call that PMS.) Using a cross bow I took my shot! Wham Bam! We pulled her into the boat and without hesitation we taped her mouth shut. Come to find out, she was a scrapper and she had lost one of her front paws and her belly was badly scarred. It was really amazing to see an alligator, their stomping grounds and a new way to hunt. I do have to mention that Wes go two gators... and yes, one was bigger than mine and both were men... I didn’t want the butch female gator. I am getting her skull mounted and her hide tanned and dyed red... I am going to bling the mount w

ith crystals and the hide will be a fabulous pair of stilettos and a bag to match... What?

(Our adventure turned into a management hunt. The week prior of me coming to the ranch, Hoppy was out on the bank of the water collecting eggs from the alligator nests. When he found her nest and 40 eggs he brought them in to check them out. He found that none of the eggs where fertile.)

After the gator hunt I went to Fallon, Nevada for my sister’s baby shower. It was wonderful to see Nora and Tommy surrounded by so many fabulous friends and

family. It made me so happy to see her so happy. We had a wonderful lunch, played games, opened gifts and the men hung around to eat, played pool and carried all of the gifts to the truck. It was a very happy time. Nora looked so beautiful being pregnant and we talked about that it is going to be the last time that I would see her and her not be a Mom!

I returned to Fort Worth where the summer was in full force, hot and humid! Did I mention that I love Texas! The next weekend I went to Houston for the Texans vs. Cowboys pre season game where I was treated to a suite that was overflowing with food and drinks... Go Texans. (Don’t say it... I went to the season game too. Boo!)

Well, being a stock contractor and now calling Texas home, the American Bucking Bull Inc. (ABBI) asked me to host a live internet feed at the Sulphur Springs Classic and Futurity competition.

You might ask yourself, “What is a Classic and Futurity Anna?”

A Classic is a 3 or 4 year old bucking bull. The bulls owner has entered the event to compete against other bulls for prize money, points to advance to the World Finals and last but not least... bragging rights! The bulls are judged for buck, kick, spin, intensity and degree of difficulty. These bulls are buck with a rider for eight seconds.

A Futurity is a 2 year old bucking bull... competing with a “dummy” on his back for four seconds.

There’s a little bit of reading material... I am trying to catch up to present day...

Just consider me like TiVo!

Fallon to Phoenix and Beyond

My sister, Nora and her husband Tommy are expecting their first child. She was six months along and her belly is so big that I would not be surprised that she ends up with twins! I am planning the baby shower. Instead of traditional invitations I took some photos. Another thing that Auntie Annie loves is photography!



Time to keep on rolling...

Thirteen hours and a check engine light I made it to Queen Creek, Arizona. I was so ready to load the rest of my belongings and head east but with some advice I relaxed and let my horses off the trailer. I stayed the night and first thing the next morning I called the Dodge dealership. They got me in by 7am. I rented a car, ran some errands, and took a nap. My truck was ready at 4pm. The truck had a full exhaust filter... $3,000 dollars later (Thank you warranty).

It was 7pm by the time I hooked up to my trailer, loaded my two horses, my two dogs and headed East on 10. My stereo was rocking and rolling, my phone was dialed in and a new chapter was open to a fresh page. What an amazing feeling! It was a new adventure. I had no fear. I was chasing my lion... I was excited, anxious and nervous in a good way.

About 100 miles from the starting gate I heard a "pop"... goes a right trailer tire. Okay, you could consider this bad luck. Life is full of adversity. So how do you want to handle it? Would you like to get mad and throw a fit or look up and see a TA truck stop... or look across the road and see a 24 hour tire service. Pretty GOOD luck if you ask me.


With a hour of day light I limped off the road and straight to the shop. I started taking off my lug nuts. The attendant stopped me and told me, " I am going to have to charge you $45 dollars extra because we are closed."


Oh no you don't! I take a step closer and tell him, "I am a chick on the road, by myself and you are not going to take advantage of me. Please! I can change my own tire and if you do not want to sell me a spar that up to you but you are not going to get an extra $45..."


The attendant sold and changed my tire for the price of the tire. Then, he had the nerve to ask me for my number. I told him to, "Hustle up. I need to get on the road."


Tucson, Los Cruses, El Paso, Odessa, Abilene, Weatherford... It is amazing the things that cross your mind in the middle of the night, how clear and creative your thought process is. I was dreaming with my eyes wide open.


1,000 miles later I pulled into Benbrook Stables. The horses and dogs were happy to set hoof and paw on land. I felt just like a bobble head and I was slap happy!


Hello Fort Worth...

Welcome...

Hello!

I am excited to start my first blog and I hope you are too!

My life has been very busy in the past year. I rang in the new year in Phoenix, actually Queen Creek. Did you know that it is the highest population of team ropers in the world? I love the area, the people and I love team roping. It took me about a year to find the right head horse. I am so glad that I waited because he is perfect for me.

Having a gypsy soul I moved to Caldwell, Idaho for a construction job. You heard me right... I was an epoxy girl. I have a new appreciation for the road that we all drive upon. I found an old farm house on forty acres for my horses, Dorothy and myself. The weather was great and I was able to rope in the area. Boise is an amazing city! I took myself on a few dates... downtown for happy hour and a Jewel concert at the botanical gardens, a weekend in McCall sunning by the lake, etc. Idaho was amazing!

But, the highway job took a break and I took on a new adventure. I packed my things within a couple of hours, took a shower and loaded my belongings. I headed down the road to my sister's house in Fallon, Nevada. I made it in six hours and I spent a couple of day there before I...

To be continued...